Regarded by many as the best pure hitter to ever
play the game, Williams didn't falter as he aged--winning the AL batting
crown at age 39 and again the following year. He won the batting crown
in 1941, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1957, and 1958 and probably would have won
additional titles had he not taken off for military service in both WWII
and the Korean War. He also won the triple crown in 1942 and 1947 but
is best known for being the last man to hit over .400 in 1941 when he
finished with a .406 average. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, Williams'
number 9 was formally retired in 1984.